Aquatic amusement and exercising device



March so, 1937. W, P lKM'GHT 2,075,649

AQUATIC AMUSEMENT AND EXERCISING DEVICE Filed July 27, 193:5

Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES geiser) PATENT GFFQE AQUATIC AMUSEMENT AND EXERCISING DEVICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to an aquatic amusement and exercising device, comprising a buoy adapted to float flatwise upon the water, and to sustain the torso of the user atwise in a horizontal position, the buoy being provided with a window enabling the user to look downwardly toward the bottom the water, as he is lying upon the buoy, and using his arms and legs to propel the buoy while he is observing fishes, marine growth and other objects beneath the surface of the water. The invention will be understood by reference to the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing of one specic embodiment thereof, while its scope will be pointed out more particularly in theappended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan of a device embodying the in- Vention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on line 2--2 of Fig. 1, when the device is collapsed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, when the device is inflated; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. l, when the device is inated.

Referring to the drawing, and to the embodiment of the invention `which has been selected for illustration, there is shown an aquatic amusement and exercising device, comprising a buoy having upper and lower walls 5, which in the present example are conveniently made of suitable flexible sheet material, such as rubber, having marginal portions 6 appropriately secured together, as by vulcanizing. As herein shown, the buoy is generally oval as viewed in plan, and is intended to sustain the torso of the user flatwise thereon, the larger end being intended to support the lower portion of the torso, and the smaller end the upper portion, the smaller end being of such width as to permit free use of the users arms projecting beyond the perimeter, while the legs project from the perimeter at the opposite end, thereby enabling the user to propel the buoy over the surface of the water, while observing shes, marine growth and other objects beneath the surface of the water, through a -window now to be described, while he is moving about.

As herein shown, the window actually is double,-that is to say, there are upper and lower Windows l of glass or other appropriate transparent material, suitably secured to the upper and lower walls, respectively, as by metallic bezels 8, having channels 9 to receive the marginal portions of the windows, the bezels being Watertight to prevent the entrance of water into the interior of the buoy. These bezels are conveniently secured in place as by being inserted in openings I0 in the walls, and the marginal portions of the openings are received in grooves Il,

provided in the bezels. In this case, also, watertight joints are provided to prevent the entrance of water into the interior of the buoy. As shown, there is a collapsible Vwater-tight sight tube I2,

connecting the walls in line with the windows.

This tube, like the walls, is conveniently made of flexible rubber, and suitably secured at its ends to the bezel, as by having portions I3 inturned into the channels il, and made watertight. Thus, the tube, with the windows at its ends, forms in itself a water-tight chamber, which has no communication with the surrounding chamber in the buoy. If desired, however, this tube may be omitted, as the air trapped therein would naturally interfere with complete collapsing of the buoy.

In this embodiment, the interior of the buoy is divided into a plurality of chambers, as by a collapsible and herein foldable partition M, having upper and lower Imarginal portions i5, suitably secured as by vulcanizing tothe upper and lower walls 5. These chambers may be inated with air, as by providing inflation Valves it, 'one for each, of the same character as those used for foot-balls and basket-balls. The valves usually employed for this purpose are much like the valves employed for the inner tubes of pneumatic tires, except that the valve stem is inverted,- that is to say, it projects inwardly into the chamber. Such valves are too well known to require further showing or description. Sometimes, footballs, instead of being provided with Valves of this nature, are provided with self-sealing walls adapted for the insertion of an air injecting needle, somewhat like the needle oi the hypodermic syringe. This method of inflation may be employed if desired, as a substitute for the more commonly used one.

As shown, the vulcanized margin of the buoy is provided with a series of perforations Il, through which there is threaded a cord lli, which may be grasped to facilitate handling of the buoy, as well as to enable the user to keepl himself from sliding about. This. cord passes through the perforations, and appears alternately on opposite sides of the buoy, which, being entirely reversible, can be used with either side uppermost.

When the device is not in use, it may be deflated and collapsed, and folded for storage or transportation. When it is to be used, both chambers are inflated sufficiently to sustain the user in the water, and its ilexibility enables it to conform somewhat to the shape of the torso of 5 the user. i

Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, but without limiting myself thereto, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:

1. A collapsible buoy of the character described comprising upper and lower walls of flexible rubber having marginal portions secured together as by vulcanizing, a collapsible and foldable partition having upper and lower marginal portions l5 secured as by vulcanizing to said upper and lower walls, and dividing the interior of the buoy into a plurality of non-communicating chambers having separate means of inflation, and a collapsible tube of flexible rubber wholly within one of said 20 chambers and having its upper and lower ends joined to said upper and lower walls, respectively.

2. A collapsible buoy of the character described comprising upper and lower walls of flexible rubber, said walls being provided with aligned open- 25 ings, a collapsible tube of flexible rubber having its upper and lower ends turned and lying flatwise against said upper and lower walls, respectively, and two metallic bezels which join said turned ends to said walls, respectively.

3. A collapsible buoy of the character described comprising upper and lower walls of flexible rubber, said walls being provided with aligned openings, a collapsible tube of flexible rubber having its upper and lower ends turned and lying atwise against said upper and lower walls, respectively, and two metallic bezels provided with channels which receive said turned ends and secure the same to said walls, respectively.

4. A collapsible buoy of the character described comprising upper and lower walls of flexible rubber, said walls being provided with aligned openings, a collapsible tube of flexible rubber having its upper and lower ends turned and lying flatwise against said upper and lower walls, respectively, and two metallic bezels provided with channels which receive said turned ends and the margins of said openings, respectively.

5. A collapsible buoy of the character described comprising upper and lower walls of flexible rubber, said walls being provided with aligned openings, a collapsible tube of llexible rubber having its upper and lower ends turned and lying flatwise against said upper and lower walls, respectively, two metallic bezels provided with channels which receive said turned ends and the margins of said openings, respectively, said bezels being provided with other channels, and windows whose margins are received in said other channels, respectively.

G. A collapsible, inatable buoy comprising, in combination, upper and lower walls of flexible material having flexible marginal portions secured together, the portions of said Walls bounded by said marginal portions being relatively movable vertically and being provided with vertically aligned openings, a vertical, flexible, and collapsible tube aligned with said openings and having an open upper end adjacent and secured to said upper wall and an open lower end adjacent and secured to said lower wall, a horizontally disposed window extending across said opening in said upper wall and having its margin secured to the latter, and a horizontally disposed window extending across said opening in said lower wall and having its margin secured to the latter;

7. A collapsible, inflatable buoy comprising, in combination, upper and, lower walls of ilexible material having ilexible 'marginal portions secured together, the portions of said walls bounded by said marginal portions being relativelymovable vertically and being provided with vertically aligned openings, a vertical, flexible and collapsible tube aligned with said openings and having its upper end adjacent said upper wall and its lower end adjacent said lower wall, a bezel which secures the upper end of said tube to said upper wall, a bezel which secures the lower end of said tube to said'lower wall, a horizontally disposed window extending across the opening in said upper wall and mountedin the upper bezel, and a horizontally disposed window extending across the opening in said lower wall and mounted in the lower bezel.

WILLIAM P. KNIGHT. 

